The Pulse: June 27, 2025

On June 23, Alberta ditched electronic counting machines and conducted a manual vote count for three by-elections for the legislature, and did so in a standard amount of time. The next test of the step away from electronic tabulators and towards hand counts in Alberta will be on Oct. 20, when 14 municipalities in the Edmonton region will elect mayors and councils.

Last October, the United Conservative Party government passed Bill 20, which banned the use of automatic tabulation machines (in use in parts of the region since the 1960s). Municipalities and their representatives have said this change will lead to increased costs and longer waits for results to be finalized.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi told Postmedia that he thinks the new rules stem from “conspiracy theories and the wishes of a small minority,” and that electronic tabulation are “safer, more secure, and more reliable.” Over in St. Albert, Mayor Cathy Heron (who will not seek re-election this year) said the bill shows “a lack of respect for voters,” and that a manual vote count will cause a tax increase. Alberta Municipalities, a non-profit that represents 264 municipalities in Alberta, shared myriad concerns about the many effects of Bill 20.

Taproot reached out to Beaumont, Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Gibbons, Leduc, Leduc County, Morinville, Parkland Country, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Stony Plain, and Sturgeon County to determine what the change will mean compared to the last election in 2021. We asked: How much did your municipal elections cost in 2021 compared to your projections for 2025? And how long did the unofficial vote count take in 2021 compared to your estimates for 2025? (Taproot reported on Edmonton’s answers to these questions in May.)

What will the changes to vote tabulation mean across the region? For two municipalities, it’s business as usual. Others, however, expect multi-day delays in providing unofficial results and costs increasing by up to 300% compared to 2021. Mitigating factors outside Bill 20 to keep in mind are that the 2021 election included a vote for who Alberta wants selected for the Senate, two referenda, and COVID-19 safety measures. This year’s elections have none of those complications. Regardless, Taproot found that most elections across the region will take longer and cost more in 2025.

• A two-day public hearing began June 26 at Edmonton City Hall to discuss extending the Community Revitalization Levy by 10 years. The City of Edmonton needs to extend the CRL to participate in a proposed deal with the Alberta government and Oilers Entertainment Group for multiple downtown development projects, including an event park by Rogers Place. Supporters of the extension, including business groups, call it a “generational opportunity” to improve the city without raising taxes, while opponents have criticized the inclusion of the event park, which would be privately run, CBC reported. Coun. Andrew Knack questioned the need for the $250-million event park project, while Mayor Amarjeet Sohi warned the broader downtown revitalization plan could fall apart without it, CTV reported.
• City council’s infrastructure committee asked administration to explore possible amendments to the City of Edmonton’s climate resilience policy after a report found climate policies have increased building costs. The report compared two theoretical fire station models, finding one built under existing standards would cost 58% more than one that meets minimum code requirements. A motion from Mayor Amarjeet Sohi asked staff to consider ways to reduce costs while meeting the City’s zero-emission goals. Administration is expected to present proposed amendments next spring.
• As part of the Alberta Zero Emissions Fleet Fuelling Project, the City of Edmonton and regional partners are launching the first mobile hydrogen fuelling station in Alberta. Located at the City’s fleet service station in Ellerslie, the station will create hydrogen for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fleet vehicles. A second station in Edmonton is also planned. The pilot project, which aims to explore hydrogen as a viable fuel option, is set to wrap up in 2027.
• The City of Edmonton has reopened applications for the Clean Energy Improvement Program, which helps finance renewable and energy-efficient retrofits for homes, multi-unit buildings, and commercial buildings. Eligible expenses include solar panels, high-efficiency windows and doors, and heating and cooling system upgrades. More than 100 residential and commercial property owners have participated in the program since it launched, the City said.
• The City of Edmonton has reopened applications for its Anti-racism Grant Program, which will provide $1.7 million in funding to support community-led efforts this year. Funding is available through five streams focused on community activation, capacity building, storytelling projects, community-led research, and countering anti-Black racism. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 11.
• An Edmonton Police Service officer who fatally shot a woman during a wellness check in 2023 will not face charges, after an Alberta Serious Incident Response Team determined the officer had reason to believe the individual was threatening to use force. The report also found “critical inconsistencies and omissions” in the testimony of the officer. The individual’s family has maintained the death was unnecessary, CityNews reported.
• The Alberta government invested $2.7 million into 27 municipalities, including five from the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, through the Northern and Regional Economic Development program, Edmonton Global said in a release. Fort Saskatchewan will use $212,000 to update its wastewater and transportation systems, Stony Plain will use $300,000 to develop more land for commercial and industrial use, St. Albert will receive $35,000 to support its tourism industry, Leduc County will receive $79,100 to position the county as a global logistics hub, and the City of Leduc will receive $72,500 to promote its strategic advantages.
• A pedestrian was struck by a train in south Edmonton on the morning of June 26. The incident occurred along 51 Avenue, between 99 Street and Gateway Boulevard. Traffic was closed in both directions, but reopened around 10am. Police did not release information about possible injuries.

Correction: This story has been corrected to accurately note the type of train that a pedestrian was hit by.

On this day in 1987, Edmonton’s future mayor called for more women to enter provincial and federal politics.

Jan Reimer’s family was no stranger to politics — her father, Neil Reimer, was a labour activist and the leader of Alberta’s New Democratic Party for the first six years of its existence. She studied sociology and political science at the University of Alberta. After that, she spent a few years of working in Australia, Southeast Asia, and India, and then returned to Edmonton.

Reimer was 28 in 1980 when she first ran for city council. Recruited as part of a slate of progressive candidates, she joined the Urban Renewal Group Edmonton (URGE). She won and joined council as an alderman. Reimer later advocated, unsuccessfully, for the title to be changed to councillor. The change occurred after her push.

After nine years as an alderman, in 1989 Reimer ran for mayor. Her platform focused on social development and environmental initiatives. During the campaign, Reimer took the unusual step of releasing a list of her largest financial backers. That and her platform seemed to connect with voters, as Reimer won the election in a landslide over mayoral incumbent Terry Cavanagh.

The win made Reimer Edmonton’s first (and still only) woman mayor. The election also marked the first time women made up a majority of Edmonton’s city council.

Her time as mayor saw deep divisions on council, but her two terms left a lasting impact on the city. One of the biggest changes was an overhaul of the city’s waste management system, including the establishment of curbside recycling and eco stations. Reimer also drove efforts to improve the water quality of the North Saskatchewan River, preserve the river valley, and expand the trail system. As an alderman, Reimer was often at odds with others on council for her support of the city’s queer community. In 1990, she became the first Edmonton mayor to officially take part in the city’s Pride Parade.

In 1995, her attempt at a third term came at a difficult time for Edmonton, with slumping oil prices and provincial belt-tightening putting the city under strain. Reimer narrowly lost to Bill Smith. While the loss marked the end of her career in elected politics, Reimer has remained active as a social advocate, especially in social development and the prevention of family violence, including her time as the executive director of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. In 2002, she received a Golden Jubilee Medal for her public service, and in 2006, she was awarded the Governor General’s Award.

Remier’s influential political career began as part of a slate of candidates, a scenario that she said gave her the financial and moral support to run for a council position. Slates have not been a major part of Edmonton’s elections since the 1980s, but changes created by the United Conservative Party government for Edmonton and Calgary will see parties return.

This clipping was found on Vintage Edmonton, a daily look at Edmonton’s history from armchair archivist Rev Recluse of Vintage Edmonton.

Here are some events happening this weekend in the Edmonton area.

• June 27: Ethics in Practice: Addressing conflicts of interest in research funding starting at 11:30am at NorQuest College
• June 27: Seniors’ Tour | fire’s burning starting at 2pm at Art Gallery of Alberta
• June 27-July 20: As You Like It at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
• June 28: Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: Hope Breathes Here starting at 10am at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park
• June 28: 2 Spirit Pow Wow starting at 10am at Borden Park
• June 28: EMPOWER Program Info Session starting at 12pm at Action For Healthy Communities Society of Edmonton
• June 28: Open House starting at 12pm at Harcourt House Arts Centre
• June 28: Ortona Diaspora Opening Reception and Panel Discussion starting at 1pm at Art Gallery of Alberta
• June 28: Fierce and Fabulous starting at 8pm at Westbury Theatre
• June 29: Edmonton Tech Girl Walk starting at 2pm at Royal Glenora Club
• June 29: Book Launch: Alycia Two Bears starting at 2pm at Audreys Books
• June 29: Mediterranean Cooking Masterclass with Chef Luis F. Barocio starting at 5pm at German Canadian Cultural Association

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 13: Natural, Zero-Waste Essential Cleaning Products Workshop at Park Place Tower
• July 19: Carrot Birthday and Chalk It Up at Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• July 19: Chinatown After Dark at China Marble Restaurant

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.